Tablet computers in FE

What is it about?

A case study is reported of an English FE College which piloted free tablet computers with groups of students across 4 courses. Drawing on interview data from focus groups with all 64 students and ten teachers in the pilot, the impact on learners was mixed: some felt more organised, more independent, more purposive in their learning. Others were frustrated with technical barriers and distracted by novelty. Engagement with tablets was not uniform, and impact was not automatically transformative.

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Why is it important?

Given the increased attention to mobile and ubiquitous learning across education, the research challenges the view that tablet computers are automatically a learning panacea in FE. Some students were enthusiastic adopters and learned more effectively inside and outside the classroom. Other students perceived tablets as irrelevant gimmicks. The attitude of teachers as 'advocates' was crucial in overcoming learner frustration prompted by IT infrastucture issues.